Illogical Draft Leaves More Questions Than Answers and More WWE Raw Fallout

The 2019 WWE draft is done and in its wake, it leaves a fanbase trying to figure out what the hell the network executives were thinking when they drafted certain Superstars ahead of others.

The inconsistencies and downright illogical methods to this year's event—one of the more underwhelming and uninspired in recent memory—may have left a bad taste in the mouths of viewers, but other elements of the show created great intrigue, excitement and storytelling potential across the brands.

Dive deeper into those topics with this recap of the sometimes mind-numbing, other times compelling October 14 episode of WWE Raw.

The 2019 WTF? Draft

A future Hall of Famer and a genuine contender for the greatest professional wrestler to lace a pair of boots, Rey Mysterio was selected in the sixth round of the draft, behind such groundbreaking performers as Humberto Carrillo, Erick Rowan, Jinder Mahal and Carmella.

The rarely used Titus O'Neil was chosen by the Raw brand one pick ahead of Elias, who was last seen prominently featured in the rivalry between Shane McMahon and Kevin Owens.

Over half of the roster remained put, with only a handful of truly significant switches between Raw and SmackDown essentially rendering the great draft of 2019 an exercise in the meaningless.

If the complete and utter unnecessity of it all isn't enough, the complete suspension of disbelief asked of its fans by WWE management is.

At times throughout both Friday and Monday's selections, there appeared to be no rhyme nor reason for the order in which Superstars were selected. Outside of the very top names, men and women appeared to be selected at random.

Fox and USA network officials would have had to have been paying close attention to 205 Live to consider selecting Akira Tozawa over Samoa Joe, or Carrillo ahead of Elias. Considering the die-hard wrestling fans had begun to tune out of that show, it is highly unlikely that was the case.

At a time when WWE desperately needed to use its draft to spark conversation and excitement among a fanbase that has, for the first time in 20 years, options over where to find its pro wrestling, it flubbed badly.

The seeming randomness of it all, the lack of actual stakes, Superstars staying put to the extent it hardly feels like anything has changed, and the intelligence-insulting order of things come together to create a lackluster event representative of why fans have grown so frustrated over the years.

In Burning It Down, Seth Rollins May Have Unleashed a Beast He Cannot Slay

What happens when you burn down the last vestiges of one's connection with mankind?

Seth Rollins is about to find out after setting fire to the Firefly Fun House Monday night, destroying the last human element of the Bray Wyatt character. In doing so, the universal champion might have awakened a beast even he cannot slay.

The show went off air with the maniacal Wyatt laughter filling the screen as cameramen focused on the flames that engulfed the set. A trademark of The Fiend character, it appears the happy-go-lucky Wyatt has been replaced, perhaps permanently, by the masked-wearing monster that has haunted WWE programming over the last handful of months.

"Why are you doing this to me?" Wyatt asked Rollins, almost meekly, as he endured a beating. The lack of empathy shown by The Architect will have long-reaching effects on him as Wyatt and his alter ego seek vengeance on the titleholder, culminating in a Falls Count Anywhere match in Saudi Arabia at Crown Jewel on Oct. 31.

Until then, expect more appearances by The Fiend as Rollins feels the wrath of a character hellbent on avenging the destruction of his happy place.

R.I.P., Ramblin' Rabbit. Your demise will not be for naught if The Fiend has anything to say about it.

SmackDown Emerges with Brighter Stars, but Raw Has Better Roster

By the time the draft wrapped up, it was clear SmackDown had emerged with more star power, obviously in hopes of impressing Fox officials and drawing fans to Friday nights. One look at the two rosters, though, and it is clear Raw emerged with a better overall squad.

Not only does it possess talent such as Becky Lynch, Seth Rollins, Charlotte Flair and Randy Orton, but it also features far more depth than its counterpart.

Aleister Black, Rusev, Bobby Lashley, Drew McIntyre, The Kabuki Warriors and Natalya make up a midcard that Raw executive director Paul Heyman will have the opportunity to play with and mold compelling storylines around.

SmackDown lacks that depth.

Beyond Brock Lesnar, Roman Reigns, Bray Wyatt and Daniel Bryan, there isn't much to work with. Yes, the show is a two-hour broadcast as opposed to Raw's three-hour presentation, but there are only so many times fans can watch the same selection of star-driven matches before it tunes out.

There are a handful of undrafted talents who are likely to find their way there, but it is difficult to shake the perception there is a ton of sizzle but little steak when it comes to the blue brand.

Chalk this one up for Raw, which was supposed to become the B-show in the wake of SmackDown's jump to Fox. Instead, the red brand now touts one of its most talented rosters in years.

Viking Raiders Channel Demolition, Road Warriors as Tag Team Champions

The 1980s were the heyday of bruising, punishing, badass tag teams that bowled over the competition en route to dominant championship reigns.

Demolition and The Road Warriors destroyed the WWE and NWA divisions, standing atop the tag team mountain as some of the best and most credible champions in either of those storied promotions' illustrious histories.

Fast forward 30 years and WWE has a team that is reminiscent of those Hall of Fame duos.

The Viking Raiders paid off their meteoric rise up the ranks Monday night, defeating Dolph Ziggler and Robert Roode to win the Raw Tag Team Championships to the delight of a crowd appreciative of their smashmouth, no-nonsense style.

One thing Erik and Ivar have going for them that their predecessors didn't is an undeniable athleticism. Yes, they can pummel opposition with rights, lefts, forearms and kicks, but they can also match their speed and agility, soar through the air and wipe them out with tope suicidas when necessary.

They are very much a hybrid team, one unlike any we have seen. Their title victory is, hopefully, the start of something special and the shot in the arm the tag team division needed.

Expect rematches with Roode and Ziggler before the team moves on to new opposition, perhaps in the form of the returning AOP, who have been re-establishing themselves in recent weeks through pre-taped vignettes.